Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: moose on April 09, 2004, 03:57:36 PM
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Friend of mine taught me how to ride her Kawasaki last night and I'm hooked.
Where is a good place to look for a used medium sized sport bike for a beginner? Prolly looking to spend about $2000 roughly.
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Street bike bike or Dirt?
If Its a street bike it might be hard to find a good one for that price.
For a dirt bike you will get a beater as well.
Now If ya can spend 3.5k you will get a much better bike for the money.
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street bike...
might take a while longer but i could prolly save a bit more if it was really a difference in quality
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Moose
Dont know if they have these in Mass....grab an "Uncle Henry's"...i think they are all over New England. Good classified mag for bikes, etc
I'd aim for a 600cc if you are confident in your riding. You didnt mention what style but Im betting you could find a nice 1990-on-up Yamaha FZR 600 or a Honda F1. If comfort isnt a worry, check the GSX-R's
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Originally posted by moose
Friend of mine taught me how to ride her Kawasaki last night and I'm hooked.
Where is a good place to look for a used medium sized sport bike for a beginner? Prolly looking to spend about $2000 roughly.
1) If you haven't done so, take a Motorcycle Foundation rider course first.
2) Start out with a general purpose bike so you won't feel bad the first time you drop it.
3) When you REALLY know how to ride, then get a sport bike as that body work is EXPENSIVE!
Dirt bike, general purpose, sport, cruiser, they're all fun ;)
edit: Forgot to add:
Dress for the fall, not the ride.
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Originally posted by SaburoS
1) If you haven't done so, take a Motorcycle Foundation rider course first.
2) Start out with a general purpose bike so you won't feel bad the first time you drop it.
3) When you REALLY know how to ride, then get a sport bike as that body work is EXPENSIVE!
I couldn't agree more, especially with #3. My dad has always told me that there are 2 kinds of motorcycle riders: those who have been in a serious accident and those who will be. When dealing with modern sportbikes, the lucky ones are those who get the chance to pay for the body work.
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Originally posted by moose
Friend of mine taught me how to ride her Kawasaki last night...
Aww man, don't make those your "Famous last words."
Listen to SaburoS. I was foolish and didnt take a course. Just learned on back roads and super-low traffic areas riding a 250 street-legal dirt bike. I was lucky i didnt screw up my first year of riding and get hurt or killed.
I guess i just had a knack for riding and never have been close to laying it down (knock on wood.)
You didnt go out and ask what kind of airplane you should buy and then fly after your first time in the right seat of a plane did you?
;)
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My first bike was a Yamaha FZR, a fizzer. :D Second was a Honda F 600. Suzuki SV-650s are good first bikes if your loking for a new bike. All depends on what kinda bike you like. Things to watch out for are the hours between 12:00 and 2:00 PM during the weekdays as people drive like ijiots. Traffic hour 5:00 - 7:00 is not so bad as the lunch hours. Ride safe.
:D
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Originally posted by SaburoS
1) If you haven't done so, take a Motorcycle Foundation rider course first.
2) Start out with a general purpose bike so you won't feel bad the first time you drop it.
3) When you REALLY know how to ride, then get a sport bike as that body work is EXPENSIVE!
Dirt bike, general purpose, sport, cruiser, they're all fun ;)
edit: Forgot to add:
Dress for the fall, not the ride.
Take it from me, you don't want to forget this part:
Dress for the fall, not the ride.
Wear the proper gear at ALL times.
- Helmet
- Solid shoes or boots of some sort (no...tennis shoes don't work)
- Leather pants or padded jeans
- Jacket made specifically for riders
- Gloves
Road rash sucks. :o
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"Sport bike" and beginner do not belong together. You need to learn how to survive on the street first before you go pushing any other envelopes.
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Take the course.
wear leather soled boots when riding, if you have to lay the bike down on asphalt and are real lucky you might be able to the tom cruise in risky business slide albeit without the panache. seriously.
have fun, be safe.
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thanks for all the great advice. i'll look into that course for sure. her bike was a small 250cc that cant have been 300 pounds. i really loved it and not even flying a plane came close to the rush of riding it was.
(http://userpic.livejournal.com/13421264/730874)
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Originally posted by moose
thanks for all the great advice. i'll look into that course for sure. her bike was a small 250cc that cant have been 300 pounds. i really loved it and not even flying a plane came close to the rush of riding it was.
(http://userpic.livejournal.com/13421264/730874)
yer gonna **** yer pants when you get to ride something like an 1150! mmmmmmm BMW R1150R :aok
do what we all have been saying, take that safety course first!! you will learn a ton, and thank yourself you did.
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(http://www3.telus.net/dougsimpson/85_150b.jpg)
You go girl!
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You aint gonna like this but here goes.
I have been riding motorcycles since 1968 and racing them since1972 so I know a little about em.
By all means PLEASE take the safety course!! You will learn alot and save on insurance as well.
Now For the kind of bike.
I would suggest a cruiser.
They are big and stable and very easy to ride.
they also offer an up right seating possition unlike the sportbikes.
Now sportbikes are cool and all but you must understand they are the F1 s of motorcycles capable of incredible speeds
And In the hands of an inexperienced rider DEADLY!
Trust me as an EMT I have worked way too many bike wrecks and dont care to see another one .
I was lucky I had 20years of experence on motocross bikes before I ever bought a road bike so my reflexes and balance skills were very good.
If all you want Is the trill of speed buy a shifter Kart and go racing much safer and you will live longer.
I would suggest you stay under 500cc for your first bike.
Now If you must go after the sportbike thing then look at the kawasaki ninja 500 I think they still make it.
It's a twin cyl 500cc bike thats very easy to ride and learn on.
600ccc bikes teand to make most of there power in the upper rpm ranges so they in turn are really meant to be reved and ridin aggressivly.
And they WILL get away from you fast.
Think long and hard about it make the smart choice for you not the one your buds tell ya you would look cool on.
Here Is some pics of my toys .
The RC51 is a brute and on more than one occasion she has left me shacking in my boots and thanking God i was still alive.
The other is a Yamaha 1600cc Roadstar
And she has never once scared me.
Al she has done Is give me countless hours of outdoor enjoyment on the open road.
Good Luck.
(http://home.comcast.net/~c.hambleton/images/rc-51.jpg)
(http://home.comcast.net/~c.hambleton/images/rd001.jpg)
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wait until a little farther into the summer for the good deals. a lot of guys decde to get a bike, and the first couple weeks of good weather seem to trigger the urge. but a couple months into their first riding season, after they've laid it down or had their first close call, many of them lose the desire to ride.
you can save a lot of cash in the fall also. the weather starts to turn too nasty to ride, and when low on cash a bike that you can't ride seems expendable.
don't get so nice of a first bike that you'll be upset when you tear it up.
there's only 2 types of riders, those who've crashed and those who are going to.
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Nice RC51!
I miss my HONDA. Sold her last year:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/77_1081587334_f4i_fullsize.jpg)
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Here Ya Go:eek: Purty...
(http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/140484/0.jpg)
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I'm glad you fixed your tag, XJ. :)
I was gonna say..."you need to use the Picture Hangar, man!!!"
U traitor. :D
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Moose,
I met you at one of the cons and liked you. I really do not want to see you kill yourself. Motorcycles are great fun and can provide hours of enjoyment but one thing to remember is that regardless of how skillful you are riding one it's the people driving the cages that can really ruin your day.
If I remember you correctly you are relativly thin and light weight and something along the lines of a Honda Shadow 600 or 650 would be a great start. I agree with bullet308, the cruisers are the most enjoyable and relaxing to ride.
I started out riding dirt bikes and what they taught me has been invaluable on how to get out of tight situations and how to recover control of a bike. You might consider riding one of those for a while before purchasing a street bike.
I have yet to take the Motorcycle Saftey Foundation course and plan to but if you are just starting out I see it as a must do.
I'll echo what others here have said: There are those that have droped a bike and there are those that are going to. If you ride one it's going to happen so be sure you are dressed for the event. Someone said road rash sucks. I can attest to that. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. :)
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Nice fence job bullet308, it looks to be cypress. how were the stringers mechanically fastened to the steel 2-1/2" posts? It looks fairly new are you having a gate manufactured or is the metal/wood combo the gate?
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First off...Learn to ride... i.e. take the course and stay away from the sport bikes until you have a few years experience under your belt, Depending on your physical size, start with a smaller bike...think in the line of 450 - 650 cc to learn on. (you will live longer)
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What Heater said.
For the first year of two ride something old, cheap and crappy. That way when you drop it (and you will drop it) the repair bill wont be high.
Most riders have silly little accidents in their first few years, small time stuff. Knew a guy who just forgot to put his feet down after stopping at a traffic signal. Another who was approaching a circle, was watching for traffic carefully and not watching the road......hit the kerb and fell off at 5 mph. It's the simple stuff that you're not used to that get ya.
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
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or getting an insect in the mouth, running over a turtle in the dark, or hearing a funny sound with the chain and looking down and backwards while driving forward. or my all time favorite warm sunny june saturday in jacksonville fl. one lane curvy dirt road, broken down pickup truck as i come fairly fast (for the conditions) around the corner. wearing shorts and flipflops. wish i had put on my boots and levi's that day. had to go all the way back to the mayport naval base infirmary to get betadined and scraped by a 3rd class donutchecker that didn't want to be there. nothing much happened to the bike though, new mirror some scuffs and scratches. my worst spills have been at low speed without much going on around me, just when you feel complacent watch out. lol
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Harley has a new sportster on the cheap (http://motorcyclecity.com/2004-Motorcycles/Harley-Davidson/04sportster.htm)
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I've got a Honda Shadow ACE 750 Deluxe that I'm wanting to sell. Email me at outtatheblues@yahoo.com if you're interested.
It was my first street bike and was great to learn on. It has just enough power to be fun, but not enough to get you into too much trouble. ;) It's also worked great for 2-up crusing on the interstates.
Cougar
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I'll echo the above suggestions.
If you dont have much experiance stay with a smaller street bike or 4 stroke enduro.
(350- 650cc range ) are the best learners and the more upright you sit the more comfortable it is along with being SEEN better.
As a long time rider on everything fron rz 250's rd 350's < Racing 2 strokes) all the way up to big Harleys one of the most important rules I use when riding is..
All Bikes have a built in cloaking device and are invisable to cars
(Always presume that they havent seen you )
Always keep a escape route (clear exit from the cars around you) planned out.
Dress to ride .
Take the riders course and if you are inclined towards the race type bikes check at your local race track they ussually have real good riders clinics .
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Well...
As others have said, I highly recommend the Motorcycle safety course.
$2000 is a bit low but you might be able to buy a decent used 600cc bike if you are patient. The beginning of summer is an expensive time to buy though. If you shop at the end of summer when a lot of people are going back to school then you will find more bargains. As far as where to look... you can probably find a motorcycle trader magazine at a local convience store, and of course the web would be a good place.
Hooligan
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Originally posted by Roscoroo
I'll echo the above suggestions.
If you dont have much experiance stay with a smaller street bike or 4 stroke enduro.
(350- 650cc range ) are the best learners and the more upright you sit the more comfortable it is along with being SEEN better.
As a long time rider on everything fron rz 250's rd 350's < Racing 2 strokes) all the way up to big Harleys one of the most important rules I use when riding is..
All Bikes have a built in cloaking device and are invisable to cars
(Always presume that they havent seen you )
Always keep a escape route (clear exit from the cars around you) planned out.
Dress to ride .
Take the riders course and if you are inclined towards the race type bikes check at your local race track they ussually have real good riders clinics .
good advice. let me add one more.
the cars are intentionally trying to run you over. ride accordingly
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Moose,
A lot of good advice in here. I, too, have just started out on motorcycles ( I'm registered for the rider safety course in September ) and am on my learner's permit right now.
My wife gave me a maximum of $1000 to spend on a first bike. I was fortunate enough to stumble over this one at a local Honda dealer while I was drooling over some Shadows.
(http://airmageddon.com/images/Honda/Honda CX500DFront.gif)
(http://airmageddon.com/images/Honda/Honda CX500DRight.gif)
It's nothing like the righteous rods you see on American Chopper or Monster Garage, but it's purpose is to get me acquainted with the world of motorcycles and do so in a manner that I don't lose my lunch money if I lay it over in the driveway and break off something important.
It's a 1981 Honda CX500 Deluxe. 35K miles. 500cc V-twin shaft drive. It's light enough ( 400 lbs or so ) that I can lift it back up if I need to. ( I know this.. was practicing sudden stops and locked rear tire..and.. ) And, being a Honda, they're pretty reliable.
I kept the fairing primarily for the visibility factor ( Something that big and glaring should increase the liklihood that I'll be seen.)
If there's any drawback that I've found with the older bike ( ya, all of a month's experience!! ) is that you can expect things like gaskets and plastic parts to start wearing out.
Here, again, it's something to learn to ride and get through the first 6 months ( highest rate of crashes are those in first 6 months of riding )
Do some shopping and some soul searching and ask questions. You'll find something that will work.
Good luck, Moose!
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Moose,
Find yourself a used Yamaha VStar 650, great bike long wheelbase, rides like a bigger bike and they are resonable in price. I bought a new one last year for $7000. Do yourself a favor and at least see what they look like before you buy anything else.
Mims
MOL
Go to Ebay and do a search for VStar it should have a few that you can get an idea what they look like. Then go here and find some people in your area with VStars.
http://www.star-riders.org/
Not my bike but I have the same one.
http://www.surfmaine.com/vstar650/index.html
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I'm not sure what experience you have with bikes, but if it's your first or your first in a while DON"T get a 600 cc sports bike. It will most likely get you killed very quickly!
Start off with a basic bike under 250 then move to maybe 400's and onwards from there. Starting off on 600's is as dangerous as going from a 250 to a 1000cc superbike.
600's sportsbikes now are incredibly fast, I've scared myself silly on one a few times and thats with 15 years + racing/track experience.
If you are set on a 600 sportsbike get something less track orientated. Like a CBR 600 or what ever the honda model is. Something like a R6 is more track orientated then the likes of a CBR which is more road suited.
Mate of mine has a Gixer 600 and I'm drifting out of corners to keep up with when the pace heats up. Of course in sweeping corners and straights he's dust. :D
Enjoy your new bike, but take it easy. Go to an advanced riding course is a must. In addition go to one of the superbike track schools. There's a few in the US and they are excellent.
...-Gixer
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Oh, forgot to add. If you get a 600 sportsbike or any bike for that matter and especially one with alot of fairing. I can gurantee what ever is it you are going to drop it or have a low speed step off. Most likely in the driveway on a wet day. Which equals very expensive to repair.
Hence another reason to get a cheap 250 to start of with. When you crash it will hardly cost anything at all to bend back into shape.
By the way I'm bot over exagerating, if your new to bikes get something cheap, has no platic on it and is 250cc or less. You'll learn quicker but most of all more likely to stay alive till you do have the experience for something bigger.
...-Gixer
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For a bit more you could learn to fly instead. Lot safer.
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For "Proper scooter locking technics" look up Curval :p
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Stay away from Honda V4's(Interceptors/Magna's)...Their cams have a very short life and cost big to repair.
Might want to consider a duel purpose bike as well...Very manouverable in traffic when someone doesn't see you..also can learn offroad with them too...You might luck out with a low km xt350 or the more street oriented klr650.
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Originally posted by AKIron
For a bit more you could learn to fly instead. Lot safer.
Heh, going for my checkride in a week ;)
Again, thanks for all the suggestions. I was incredibly happy with her 250, but she kept telling me that I was much to big for it. As much as this might sound like a load of BS, i'm not too concerned about how fast it can go right off. I would be completely happy with just that, but she won't sell it to me.
I really wish I could find something for this summer. I'd love to be able to ride with her.
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Originally posted by moose
I'd love to be able to ride with her.
I'll bet. :rolleyes: :D
You're not talking 600s anyway but.......I totally disagree with anyone above who's recommended you get a 600cc bike. Too big for a learner.
I first rode an 80cc Kawasaki for 4 months until I'd passed my test. Then on to a 250cc Suzuki (although that was a mistake cos that bike was a *****. RGV250. 2 stroke. Real small power band but by Christ didn't it kick in hard).
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
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Originally posted by AKIron
For a bit more you could learn to fly instead. Lot safer.
I have a CPL-H and still find riding though more racing bikes more fun then flying. My latest experience is dirt speedway (flattrack) singles and sidecars racing. Completing in winning a race in that catagory is an amazing rush.
...-Gixer